Beginner

Suited for a wide range of uses, Level 1 Beginner telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

The StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker Reflector makes it easy for the whole family to enjoy night after night of stargazing fun with its combination of great telescope optics and an easy-to-use motorized tracking mount. The 114mm (4.5") aperture reflector telescope tube gathers a substantial amount of light, but remains nicely compact and portable. With its moderate focal length of 500mm and f/4.4 focal ratio, the StarBlast 114mm reflector will display detailed views of the Moon and planets like Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Brighter galaxies, nebulas and star clusters of deep space are also well within reach of this wide-field reflector telescope. The included StarBlast AutoTracker Mount will automatically track any of these objects once you've aimed the telescope at them, so you can enjoy the view for as long as you wish without having to hassle with re-aiming the telescope as the object appears to migrate across the night sky.

An EZ Finder II reflex sight is included to help aim the telescope, and two included 1.25" eyepieces (10mm and 25mm) provide two different magnifications (50x and 20x) right out of the box. A collimation cap is also included to help periodically align the telescope's reflecting optics. Easily manageable at just 12.4 lbs. when assembled, the StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker Reflector can be taken almost anywhere you want to enjoy views of starry skies with the luxury of automatic tracking.

After completing a simple alignment procedure, the Orion StarBlast AutoTracker Altazimuth Mount's internally housed motors rotate the mount and attached 114mm reflector telescope so the object you're observing will stay centered in the telescope eyepiece (astronomers call this "tracking"). This allows you to enjoy lengthy views of objects in the night sky without having to hassle with moving the telescope manually to keep the object centered. While the StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker Reflector Telescope will not locate objects for you (without the optional Orion Atlas/Sirius Computerized GoTo Hand Controller), it will precisely track any celestial object that has been manually located and centered in the eyepiece. With the luxury of precise automatic tracking, you can concentrate on observing night sky objects, instead of constantly reorienting your telescope as the target object drifts out of your telescope eyepiece's field-of-view. You'll be able to discern more subtle features and details of celestial objects as you relax at the eyepiece without having to worry about manually repositioning the telescope to keep the object in sight.

It's easy to align the StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker. All you have to do is level the mount using the built-in bubble-level and threaded risers on two of the mount feet, set your local latitude, and align the attached telescope to North. Once these simple steps have been completed, all you have to do is turn on the AutoTracker's power switch, and you'll be tracking the heavens automatically! Thanks to an adjustable dual-encoder clutch mechanism, you can aim the reflector telescope manually without the tracking system losing its alignment.

On top of automated tracking, the StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker Telescope also features camera cruising functionality. This allows you to attach a Canon DSLR camera to the Mount using an included L-bracket so you can easily take time-lapse photos, panoramic photos, and even capture snapshots at select positions as the AutoTracker moves the attached Canon DSLR camera. A Canon shutter-release cable is also included for added convenience.

Eight AA batteries are required for motorized operation of the StarBlast AutoTracker Mount; or you can use an optional 12V, 2 amp power supply or AC Adapter (batteries and optional power supplies sold separately).

You can upgrade the StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker easily to add GoTo object location and pointing abilities by plugging in an optional Orion Atlas/Sirius Computerized GoTo Hand Controller (sold separately). The optional computerized hand controller converts the StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker Reflector into a full GoTo telescope that can automatically find objects in the sky for you!

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.

User level

Level 1 Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, these telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 2 Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 3 Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Level 4 Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece.
Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens.
Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Optical diameter

For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.

For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.

Focal length

The distance from the center of a curved mirror or lens at which parallel light rays converge to a single point. The focal length is an inherent specification of a mirror or lens and is one of the factors in determining resultant magnification for a telescope (along with the focal length of the eyepiece being used).

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration.
Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Glass material

Refractors use glass lenses to focus the light, and the glass material plays an important role in the quality of the resulting image. Standard achromatic refractors routinely use Crown and Flint for the two elements, but more expensive apochromatic refractors can use ED (extra low dispersion) glass for one or more of the lenses. Reflector mirrors are made from glass with different levels of thermal expansion. Standard mirrors are made from material such as Soda-Lime Plate glass and BK-7 glass. Glass with Pyrex or other low thermal expansion material will not change shape as dramatically during the cool-down period, resulting in more stable images during this period.

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification.
But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Orders received after 1pm will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

The StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker Reflector makes it easy for the whole family to stargaze with its combination of great optics and a motorized mount. This value-packed kit comes with a Shorty 2x Barlow and the Orion Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit.

Need for a good way to start identifying constellations? The Orion Star Target Planisphere is the perfect telescope accessory! Designed for 30-50 deg North latitude and includes simple instructions and viewing tips. Just dial in the date and time!

The affordable MoonMap 260 is a must-have for any backyard astronomer. The laminated map includes both a correct and reversed view of the Moon and identifies over 260 popular lunar features including craters, valleys, mountain ranges, and more!

Having trouble viewing details on the Moons surface? This neutral-density eyepiece filter reduces glare so you can see more detail and surface features. The 1.25" Orion 13% Transmission Moon Filter is especially useful with large aperture telescopes.

You've just bought your first telescope, but now what? The Orion Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit is the perfect addition! This best selling kit includes a planisphere star atlas, Discover the Stars book, Orion MoonMap 260, and a red flashlight.

If you are an avid astronomer you know that you should always use red light instead of white to help protet your night vision. The Orion RedBeam II LED Flashlight has adjustable brightness which lets you observe without ruining your night vision.

This set gives you two of the higher powered Sirius Plossl Eyepieces, great for detailed views of the Moon and Planets. Included are the 7.5mm and 12.5mm telescope eyepieces. Both are multi-coated giving you sharp bright, clear images.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!